Stop Cyberbullying
This is not just a cyber problem but it is a society problem. To combat it we need to address it at home, in school and throughout society. It makes me sick at heart to have such incidents occur like the one with Kathy Sierra. My heart goes out to her and I think her blogging about it shows courage. She needs our support. Then some of the conversations that have followed about the incident are alarming in different ways. All the analyzing, second guessing and side issues about the situation take us away for the issue at heart. To me that issue is that some coward has used the anonymity of the Internet to threaten, strike fear, and display totally inappropriate and unacceptable behavior. This type of harrassment is what we have to combat.
This points out how more than ever we need to be given the responsibility for teaching appropriate and responsible behavior on the Internet. We can’t do that if we shut down sites and hide our heads in the sand. We need to start early, have many conversations about safe, responsible, and acceptable behavior online as well as offline. We need to have sites available so that we can encourage and promote good relations, foster understandings, and truly work on nurturing global communities. We also need a society that shuns activities that encourages mean spiritness and laughing at the expense of others. We need a whole lot more press about the good things that are happening instead of an incessant listing of trivia about…well, you get the picture, I know.
Thanks to Scott McLeod for the cyberbully graphics.
Also check out Will’s post today where he says, “I won’t speak for other parents, so here’s what I’ve set as my own path for helping my own kids deal with the inevitabilities of this extremely complex and wide-ranging social issue.” We all should follow that path.
March 31st, 2007 at 11:47 am
I totally agree that bullying is a totally unacceptable type of behaviour - and should be tackled more in the home and in schools.
How can one treat someone else in such a horrendous way and not even feel some kind of guilt! What happened to the good old rule: treat others the way you would like to be treated?
Let’s all try to “stamp out bullying” and make this a better place to live in! Action points that we can start think about - especially within schools:
http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/stamping-out-bullying-576
April 1st, 2007 at 8:46 pm
[…] A topic of concern for my inquiry into blogs in the classroom is cyberbullying. A recent post by Anne Davis introduced me to the topic. According to Cyberbully.org, an extension of The Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use, “Cyberbullying is sending or posting harmful or cruel text or images using the Internet or other digital communication devices.” Like bullying, cyberbullying is a social issue. While certain technology-based solutions such as concealing your identity may work, we should seek a solution that creates a change in the behavior of the bullies and those being bullied. Filtering content and preventing our students from using the Internet and various communication technology is not a solution. It is a way to avoid and ignore the problem. […]
April 4th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I am new to the topic of cyberbulling to the extent that Kathy Sierra has experienced! This certainly makes me rethink about blogging.
I did find an interesting site: http://cyberbully.org/that had some good information. Cyber bullying is everyone’s business and the best response is a pro-active or preventative one. As parents we need to get involved and be aware. If a child is is being bullied online, take action. Kids need to develop their own moral code so they will choose to behave ethically online.
How scary is this!!!
April 5th, 2007 at 2:59 am
I applaud you for writing more about this issue. I was most inspired by your comment that we can hide our heads in the sand or we can step up and teach this generation about internet safety. I myself will try to do as much as I can to teach my Grade 3 students about internet safety - oh yes and we blog too.